Tag Archives: San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge

On Valentine’s Day, 2017 I had the pleasure of touring the Sears Point Wetland, part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

This wetland was acquired and restored by Sonoma Land Trust (SLT). In late October, 2015 SLT breached a levee and let the San Pablo Bay flood into formerly agricultural land that had been “reclaimed” 140 years ago. The breach was a dramatic event covered here.

For 14 decades, farmers grew oat hay on this land. Today it is tidal wetland. It is silting up and turning back into a fertile Marsh wetland. It’s home to many forms of wildlife now.

Corby Hines, outings guide for SLT, led today’s tour.

Right off the bat we saw sandpipers. Sibley’s field guide says sandpipers can be challenging to identify. I think these are these Least Sandpipers.

These larger sandpipers are, I think, Marbled Godwits.

Because it was so calm we were able to paddle out of the salt marsh and into San Pablo Bay. It’s a huge estuary.

In the distance, Carquinez Bridge

We returned to to the restored salt marsh by riding the flood tide up Tolay Creek.

We enjoyed a lunch with Julian Meisler, SLT’s Baylands Manager. He told us the story of reclaiming this landscape from agricultural use, and helping it revert to its more natural and productive identity as a wetland.

Julian managed this restoration effort. These people are doing critically important work for the health of the ecosytem.